Train-carried receiver for automatic train-control systems



Jan. 3, 1928.

C. H. ZIERDT TRAIN CARRIED RECEIVER FOR AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS Filed July 29 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 3, 1928.

1,655,005 c. H. ZIERDT TRAIN CARRIED RECEIVER FOR AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS Filed July 29. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k 21 y I I z 25 25 l i J Amplifier INVENTOR 2 Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONRAD H. ZI-ERDT, OF ROSEDALE, PENN TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYL- VANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH &, SIGNAL COMPANY, OF $17.7 VAICE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

but

RECEIVER FOB AUTOMATIC TRAIN-CONTROL SYSTEMS.

Application filed July 29, 1926, Serial No. 125,658.

My in ent on re t s to automa ic a control systems, and particularly tc systems n wh ch tra n arr d appa at s s o oll d t l s i pa y al e nating cur.- e t h ch fl ws ro g e ra il in mul iple. Mo P ti u y my n en n relates to train carried receivers for use in such systems.

One object of my invention is the provisi i Of a rec r w ch l s pp y nergy to the train carried apparatus in accordance with the train controlling current in the track rails, but will be substantially immune to the effects of alternating current flowing in adj e t transmi ion "li s, ra k r Q its, t

I wil de cri e a fo s app r u embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammaticview showing a port-ion of,

an automatic train control system including one form of receiver embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the receiver shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are front views of other forms of receiver also embedy ns y i n n Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views,

Ref r ng 9 Fi the r f renc Char acters 1 and 1 designate the track rails of a stretch of railway track, the rails being divided to form a section by means of insulated joints 2. Connected across the rails at spaced points are two resistances 3 and 3 to the mid-points of which are connected the, terminals of the secondary 5 of a transformer T. The primary etof the transformer T is supplied with alternating current from any suitable source, not shown in the drawing. In practice, the supply of current to the track rails will usually be controlled in accordance with trahic conditions, but inasmuch as the controlling means forms no part of the present invention it is omitted from the drawing. The current supplied by the transformer T flows through the track rails 1 and 1 in multiple, that is, at any given instant it flows in the same direction in these rails. This current will be referred to as the loop current.

The reference character V designates a train on which is carried a receiverA placed between two cars transversely of the track rails and beneath the coupler. The receiver will usually be placed on the rear of the tender or between the locomotive and tender on a steam train and between the first two cars of an electric train. Referring to Fig. 2, the receiver A comprises two horizontal magnetic cores'6 and 7 and two vertical cores 8 and 9. The core 6 is provided with feet 6? and 6 which project downwardly on opposite sides of track rail 1. The core 7 is provided with similar feet 7? and 7 The cores 6, 7, 8 and 9 may be secured together by suitable non-magnetic clamps, which are omitted from the drawing for the sake of clearness. The cores 6 and 7 carry coils 10 and 13, and the cores 8 and 9 carry coils 11 and 12. The coils 10, 11, 12 and 18 are included in what I shall refer to as the pickup circuit B, and are so wound that loop current flowing through the track rails 1 and 1 and through the coupler lfl: will induce therein electromotiv-e forces which are additive. The pick-up circuit B is connected in series with a condenser 15 whicn balances the inductive reactance of the winding, and

the whole circuit will usually be tuned to resonance for current ofthe frequency supplied by the transformer T.

The current from the pick-up circuit B may be supplied to any suitable form of train carried governing apparatus here shown as an induction motor relay R. The relay R comprises a rotor 19 and two windings l7 and 18. The winding 17 may be supplied with energy from circuit B through an amplifier 16. The winding 18 may be supplied with energy by any suitable means which forms no part of this invention and is therefore omitted,

The fiuX due to current in the rails 1 and 1 is represented on the drawing by dash lines, while that due to coupler current is represented by dot-dash lines. It will be seen that the electromotive forces induced by these currents are additive, and that the electromotive force supplied to the pick-up circuit 13 will be the sum of the separate electromotive forces induced in coils 10, 11, 12 and 13.

Foreign magnetic fluxes from sources adjacent the trackway passing through the cores 8 and 9 in the same direction will induce opposing electromotive forces in thecoils 11 and 12 so that the effect upon the pick-up apparatus may be made substantially zero by a proper proportioning of the parts.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 3 is similarv to that in Fig. 2 except that the cores 8 and 9 are replaced by a U-shaped magnetic core 20 having vertical upstanding legs 20* and 20 The coils 10, 11, 12 and 13 are arranged in the same manner asldescribed with reference toFig. 2 andthe operation is the same.

In Fig. 4 the receiver comprises three magnetic cores 21, 22 and 23 secured together by means of nonmagnetic members 24 and 25. The cores 21, 22and 23 are provided with coils 26, 27 and 28, respectively, the coils bethe entire loop current passed through the rails.

Foreign magnetic fluxes passing through the cores 21, 22 and 23 induce electromotive forcesso that the effect of coil 28 is opposed toithat of coils 26 and27. By properly proportioning these coils and cores the effects of foreign fluxes can be substantially eliminated. The apparatus shown in Fig. 5 comprises two magnetic cores 29 and 30 secured together by non-magnetic members 31 and32. The core 29 is provided with feet 29? and 29* which project downwardly in proximity to the rails 1 and 1. The cores 29 and 30 carry coils 33 and 3 1, and are so wound that the electromotive forces induced therein by the loop current flowing in the track rails .and the coupler are additlve. Vertical fluxes due to foreign currents will have no effect upon the pick-up circuit because they will pass downward through each of the legs .30 and 30 of the core 30 and oppose each other. Horizontal fluxes passing through the two cores will induce opposing electromotive forces in the coils 33 and 3 1 so that by a suitable proportioning of the cores 29 and 30 and of coils 33 and 3% the receiver will be substantially immune to the efiects of foreign fluxes.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a receiver which will utilize the loop current flowing in the track rails and in the car couplers, and which will substantially neutralize fields set up by circuits which would otherwise interfere with the normal operation of the train carried apparatus.

Although I have shown only a few forms of. apparatus embodying ,my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without de parting from'the spirit and scope of my invention.. I o

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaimis: f" if f Y "1. A train carried receiver comprising a first magnetic corein inductive relationwith the'trackiails, a second magnetic core in inductive relation with acar couplerjcand a coil on each of the cores, the coils being connected in series and arranged so "that the electromotive forces induced therein by currents flowing through the track rails and the coupler in multiple are additive.

2. A train carried receiver comprising a substantially horizontal magnetic'core in in ductive relation withthe trackrails, a {second magnetic core having a vertical portion in inductive'relation with acar coupler, and a coil on each of the cores, the coils being so arranged that theelectromotiv'e forces induced therein by currents flowing in one direction in the track rails and the car coupler are additive. 7 V 3, A train carried receiver comprising two substantially horizontal magnetic cores, one in inductive relation vwith each track rail, a plurality of substantially vertically extending magnetic cores in inductive relation with a car coupler, and a coil on each of the cores, the coils being so arranged that currents flowing in one direction'in the track rails and the car coupler induce additive electromotiveforces in the coils. j p

4. A train carriedrece iver comprising a magnetic core extending transversely over the two track rails, a U-shaped magnetic core in inductiverelation to a car coupler, and a coil on each ofthe cores, the coils being so wound that currents flowing in one direction in the track rails and the car coupler induce additive electromotive forces therein.

5. A train carried receiver comprising a magnetic core in inductive relation with the track rails, a second magnetic core in in ductive relation with a'car coupler, and a coil on each core, the coils being connected in series in such manner that electromotive forces induced therein by currents flowing in the same direction in the track rails and the coupler are additive but that the electromotive forces induced in the coils by fluxes from sources adjacent the trackway are in opposition.

G. A train carried receiver comprising a first coil inductively related to at least one track rail and a second coil inductively related to a car coupler, the coils being connected In series in such manner that the electroinotive forces induced therein by currents flowing in the same direction in the coupler and-such one rail at an instant are additive but that the electromotive forces induced in the coils by fluxes from sources adjacent the trackway are in opposition.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CONRAD H. ZIERDT. 

